diff --git a/proto/projectSettings/v1.proto b/proto/projectSettings/v1.proto
index 324eace..43fd57f 100644
--- a/proto/projectSettings/v1.proto
+++ b/proto/projectSettings/v1.proto
@@ -30,4 +30,5 @@ message ProjectSettings_1 {
   optional DefaultPresets defaultPresets = 2;
   optional ConfigMetadata configMetadata = 3;
   optional string name = 4;
+  bool isInitialProject = 5;
 }
diff --git a/schema/projectSettings/v1.json b/schema/projectSettings/v1.json
index 9e715f1..07d6e26 100644
--- a/schema/projectSettings/v1.json
+++ b/schema/projectSettings/v1.json
@@ -49,8 +49,12 @@
       },
       "additionalProperties": false,
       "required": ["name", "buildDate", "importDate", "fileVersion"]
+    },
+    "isInitialProject": {
+      "type": "boolean",
+      "description": "this allows for checking if the user has already joined a project or if its on the initial 'default' project"
     }
   },
-  "required": ["schemaName"],
+  "required": ["schemaName", "isInitialProject"],
   "additionalProperties": false
 }
diff --git a/test/fixtures/good-docs-completed.js b/test/fixtures/good-docs-completed.js
index 074f4d9..4afd35a 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/good-docs-completed.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/good-docs-completed.js
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ export const goodDocsCompleted = [
         buildDate: cachedValues.configMetadata.buildDate,
         importDate: cachedValues.configMetadata.importDate,
       },
+      isInitialProject: true,
       deleted: false,
     },
     expected: {},
diff --git a/test/fixtures/good-docs-minimal.js b/test/fixtures/good-docs-minimal.js
index 24b50f6..caf2143 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/good-docs-minimal.js
+++ b/test/fixtures/good-docs-minimal.js
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export const goodDocsMinimal = [
       },
       links: [],
       deleted: false,
+      isInitialProject: false,
     },
     expected: {},
   },